Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick scrambles for a first down during a fourth-quarter rally against the New York Giants on Dec. 19, 2010 in East Rutherford, N.J. / Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY

by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The slumping New York Giants did not need this news. Not with all they're going through right now.

Rookie quarterback Nick Foles has a broken hand. Michael Vick will start Sunday's season finale, a game that means virtually nothing to the Philadelphia Eagles but has playoff implications for the Giants.

Vick can spoil those hopes.

"Oh my gosh. We were talking about it," Giants defensive tackle Chris Canty said with a chuckle at his locker Wednesday. "Just ... that guy ... it's only fitting he's starting in the final game of the season ... probably his final game as an Eagle ... against the New York Giants.

"Perfect story line. Only fitting."

Perfect except for the fact there are four things the Giants need to happen in order for them to make the postseason. The first of those is beating the Eagles, which seemed difficult enough given the Giants have had trouble beating anybody of late.

In comes Vick, who led a comeback from a 31-10 deficit in the final eight-plus minutes of a Week 15 game in 2010 that left Tom Coughlin sitting in a dark room for hours, trying to figure out and cope with what had just happened after the 38-31 defeat helped keep the Giants out of the postseason.

Coughlin wasn't biting Wednesday when asked for his reaction when he learned Vick would start, saying, "Let's get ready. What other reaction am I going to have?" And to be fair, this is a guy the Eagles didn't start over Foles, though that was more so they could get a peek at Foles to gauge his long-term potential.

But Vick brings that element of athleticism and unpredictability in a game in which the Eagles can play loose and free. He'll be putting on a show for potential employers.

"I mean, here we go again," linebacker Michael Boley said of Vick, who has thrown for 917 yards and run for 244 more in four starts for the Eagles against the Giants, three of which Philadelphia won. "He's definitely played pretty well against us in the past. I guess you just have to get your mind right for him to do a little bit of running around."

Said defensive back Antrel Rolle, "We've just got to go out there and play hard-nosed football, make him not want to run. Make him want to stay in that pocket."

Truth is, the Giants have done a decent job of containing Vick. In 2010, after he accounted for six total touchdowns against the Washington Redskins on Monday Night Football, Vick found the end zone once against the Giants.

But oh, that comeback four weeks later that helped keep the Giants out of the payoffs.

"Can't forget that one," Canty said. "Never will."

Eagles coach Andy Reid thinks Vick hasn't forgotten how to play quarterback. Reid expects early on the game will be fast for Vick, who hasn't taken a snap since the Dallas Cowboys knocked him out with a concussion Nov. 11, but it should slow down eventually.

It's that layoff that will also motivate Vick. He told USA TODAY Sports this week, in regards to being held out for the past few weeks in favor of Foles, "Some things could have been handled differently."

Reid revealed Wednesday some of Vick's teammates were "giving him the business" while he was working with the scout team as Robert Griffin III in advance of this past Sunday's game against the Redskins.

It was playful banter, according to Reid. But Vick isn't joking about what this game means for his career, even if it's his last with the Eagles.

"That may be the case," Vick said, "but I'm just praying it's not my last football game ever."